Quick disconnect type brush terminal



Nov. 29, 1960 H. G. OTT

QUICK DISCONNECT TYPE BRUSH TERMINAL Filed March 28, 1958 INVENTOR JIZRY 6. TT

ATTORNEY United States Patent" QUICK DISCONNECT TYPE BRUSH TERMINAL Henry G. Ott, North Olmsted, Ohio, assignor to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York I H Filed Mar. 28, 1958,Ser.No. 724,610 r zilaims. (Cl. 339-258) The invention relates to a connector for connecting and disconnecting shunted electrical contact brushes to and from electrical machines, and, more particularly, relates to a connector which allows the removal and replacement of a shunted electrical contact brush with the minimum amount of shutdown time.

It is a well known fact in the field of electrical machinery, that shunted electrical contact brushes need to be replaced after a period of use in an electrical machine because they are worn out or for other various reasons. In many applications where electrical machines are used, it is highly desirable that brushes be replaceable, when necessary, within the minimum amount of time when the machines are stopped for repair.

The prior art has recognized these needs, but the present invention is animprovement over any means which have yet been put forward to solve them.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an improved connector which permits the replacement of shunted electrical contact brushes easily and rapidly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector that permits the replacement of shunted electrical contact brushes within the minimum amount of time after shutting down the machine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector characterized by improved interfacial contact to reduce the electrical resistance of the connector.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector characterized by economy of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a connector showing the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of one element of the connector of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of another element of the connector of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 1, a male connecting element 12 has joined to it, in electrical contact, a wire or cable conductor 10, which leads from a shunted electrical contact brush (not shown), by having its extended section 14 crimped onto the conductor and soldered thereto. This male connecting element 12, as shown in Fig. 2, has two projecting lugs 16, one on each outer edge, which are adapted to engage notches 18 in a female element 20. This engagement is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 as well as Fig. 1 may be referred to for the principal parts of the female element 20. Female element 20 is preferably comprised of a pair of substantially L-shaped electrically conductive members 22 and 32, although they may be flat or of any other suitable physical shape. These members are of such relative shape to one another so that when they are mechanically joined together at a common point, a receptacle is formed to receive the male element 12 which will be held there firmly by the spring-like action between the two members 22 and 32. The members 22 and 32 may be mechanically joined together prior to' mounting the female element 20 in a desired place, as shown, or at the time of such mounting.

One member of the female element20 is the member 22 which has on its contacting surface 24 paralleled up edges 26 have notchesl8 cut therein on both sides to,

receive the projecting lugs 16 on the male element 12 and to hold the male element 12 in position. The other member of the female element 20 is member 32 which abuts the outer surface of said member 22 and has an upturned lip 34 whose base 36 presses against said lip 30 of said member 22. The members 22 and 32 are joined together by a rivet 38. The joined members, making up female element 20 have a terminal eyelet 40 cut through them so that the female element can be electrically mounted in a desired place.

By following the foregoing description of the drawings, it can be seen that the manner in which electrical contact is made between the male element 12 and the female element 20 is to take the male element 12, which is a relatively fiat piece adapted to fit the female element 20, and insert it between the lips 30 and 34 of the two members 22 and 32 respectively which make up female element 20, and then push the male element 12 forward, which will cause it to slide easily up the tapered edges 28 of member 22 until it enters the receptacle formed by the manner in which the members 22 and 32 are shaped and joined until, finally, its projecting lugs 16 fall into the notches 18 of member 22. Once in that position the male element 12 will be held there firmly by the spring-like action between the two members 22 and 32. The male element 12 may be quickly and easily removed from female element 20 by simply lifting it up so that the projecting lugs 16 will no longer be engaged in notches 18 and then pulling it out from within the lips 30 and 34 of female element 20.

It is now apparent that the improved connector of the invention permits the rapid replacement of the male element, which is connected to the shunted electrical contact brush which is to be replaced, with a new male element and brush assembly by any relatively unskilled person, and without the use of tools.

Overall resistance readings taken between the points where the electrical wire or cable conductor leading from the shunted electrical contact brush joins the male element and the terminal eyelet when a 10 ampere current was passed through the connector of the invention, wherein the connector of the invention was made of silver plated beryllium copper, gave an average reading of .15 milli-ohm.

This represents an insignificantly small resistance when compared with the resistance of other elements in the circuit such as the resistance within the brush and shunt connection and at the commutator face.

What I claim is:

1. A disengageable electrical connector comprising a male and a female element, said female element consisting of an electrically conductive bottom member and an electrically conductive top member resiliently joined thereto, said bottom member having a flat contact surface pro vided with integral parallel upturned edges extending at least part of the length of said contact surface and tapering downwardly toward said contact surface at its forward end, each of said upturned edges being provided with a notch therein, said top member of said female element terminating in a resilient generally S-shaped portion, said S-shaped portion at its intermediate point bearing in a spring-like manner against said contact surface Patented N av. 29,

elementin engagement wi thisai'd notches-insaidupturnededges. and by said spring-like action: of said resilient 8-- shaped portionbearing onsaid male. element, but'being rapidly removable from said female element by exerting 15 3 7 4 a force in the upward direction followed by a force in an outward direction therefrom.

2. The disengageable electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said female element is substantially L-shaped and has a terminal eyelet therein which permits said female element to be electrically mounted in a desired place and said male element has a flexible conductor secured thereto.

References Cited in the file of'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Culver et a1 Nov. 24, 1936 Hayes Dec. 25, 1951 Doane Jan. 17, 1956 

